An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A process by which a planet loses its atmospheric gases to space. There are three main types: 1) → thermal escape, 2) → suprathermal escape (or → nonthermal escape), and 3) → impact erosion. According to models,

the two mechanisms that can most efficiently cause substantial atmospheric loss are hydrodynamic escape and impact erosion (see, e.g., Catling, D. C. and Kasting, J. F., 2017, Escape of Atmospheres to Space, pp. 129-167. Cambridge University Press).

See also: → atmospheric; → escape.